Canada-UAE free trade deal concluded

Canada and the United Arab Emirates have concluded negotiations on a free-trade agreement, announced on July 24, 2026. International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi confirmed the deal, which was reached in a record 47 days. The agreement will reduce tariffs on most products and lower technical barriers to trade. The UAE pledged last year to invest around $70 billion in Canada, with potential investments in ports, mines, LNG, and major projects. Sidhu plans to travel to the UAE with a trade delegation later this year, and Canada will host the first Canada Investment Summit in Toronto in September. The deal is part of Canada's strategy to diversify exports beyond the U.S., with non-U.S. exports increasing by $33 billion in 2025. Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has signed 20 strategic trade and defence agreements over the past year, including a separate free trade deal with Ecuador on the same day.